New Delhi: A dense fog cover enveloped the national capital on Monday morning, with low visibility level slowing down vehicular movement on roads. Train services were also disrupted with over 40 trains running behind schedule. The city woke up to a dense fog. At 8.30 a.m., the visibility was reduced to 200 metres, and road traffic was forced to slow down to a crawl.

'I had a tough time steering through fog. But this is just the beginning. It might get worse as the temperature dips,' said Vivek Shukla, a school cab driver.

The fog also threw train schedules out of gear.

'Over 40 trains were running behind schedule by several hours and as of today 29 trains have been cancelled. Dense fog across many parts of north India today (Monday) affected rail services. The departure of four trains from Delhi has been rescheduled due to dense fog in the capital,' a Northern Railway spokesperson said.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the fog will clear as the day progresses.

'As the sun comes out, the thick fog will clear, although hazy conditions will prevail all day,' an IMD official said.

'The minimum temperature was 5 degrees Celsius, three notches below the average for this time of the season. The maximum is expected to hover around 18 degrees Celsius,' he added.

On Sunday, the minimum and maximum temperatures were recorded at five and 23 degrees celsius.

Agra fogged out, records season's lowest

The city of Taj Mahal was also literally fogged out on Monday morning, slowing down traffic to a crawl and causing a couple of minor accidents. It also recorded the season's lowest minimum temperature at 2.5 degrees Celsius.

Early morning, rickshaw-pullers could be seen struggling to rush kids to schools on time. Traffic on the National Highway to Delhi was disrupted because of low visibility.

The night shelters run by Sri Nathji Nishulk Jal Sewa and a few opened by the Agra Muicipal Corporation reported full attendance. The corporation is providing fire wood and cow dung cakes for bonfires at important crossings.

Bankey Lal Maheshwari, who runs the Sri Nathji night shelters, said: 'Our shelters on the MG Road are full. Looks like winter is going to be really harsh this season. We are now providing extra quilts and blankets.'

Travel guide Ved Gautam said with trains arriving late, tourists were left with less time to see the monuments in Agra. 'Those who come only for a day can see only Taj, they cannot go to Fatehpur Sikri,' he said.